Mindful Meditation for Individuals with Asthma and Anxiety: Promising Results from a Multiple Baseline Study

Abstract

Asthma is a disease that affects the overall health and quality of life of millions of children and adults in the U.S. In addition to the physical symptoms and the limitations, many people with asthma also experience anxiety. Psychological interventions used in conjunction with standard treatment have successfully reduced anxiety, as well as improved lung functioning among people with asthma. Mindfulness techniques have been shown to reduce anxiety among children, adolescents and adults. This study sought to determine if mindfulness meditation might reduce anxiety and also improve lung functioning. It was found that lung functioning was moderately improved, especially on the day of the sessions, pre and post treatment. Anxiety was also substantially improved during the pre and post in-session treatment.

Mindfulness Meditation as a Complementary Health Therapy: A Useful Import into Africa?

“…The incidence of myocardial ischemia and death from cardiovascular disease were also reported to be lowered. Cheryl et al (2017) reported that mindfulness meditation led to a moderate improvement in lung functions in a study population composed of patients with asthma. This can be explained by the fact that mindfulness meditation is a stressreduction intervention and stress leads to histamine release which can trigger broncho-constriction and mucus hypersecretion in asthmatics (Yamauchi and Ogasawara, 2019).…”